Minor garage door issues, like a slight squeak or a small misalignment, might not seem like a big deal in the moment. If left unchecked, however, small problems can quickly escalate, leading to safety issues, major breakdowns, and high repair costs.
To avoid more serious problems, it’s critical to address garage door issues early. Prompt action will help preserve the integrity of your garage door and protect your pocketbook.
Timely Care Avoids Costly Repairs
Ideally, your garage door should operate with minimal noise. Any noise it does make should be even and balanced, with no sudden changes in tone, volume, or pitch.
The mechanisms that allow your garage door to move are robust, but they’re not impervious to wear and tear. Atypical noises are often among the first signs that something may be wrong.
Squeaking
Squeaking noises can indicate that the door hinges, springs, or rollers need lubrication. What starts as a squeak can become an issue with the door’s overall balance, as one side moves at a different rate than the other. An unbalanced or misaligned door often causes trickle-down damage and opening and closing issues.
Rattling
Rattling is a telltale sign of loose hardware. When hardware starts getting loose, the problem will only get worse. Over time, the hardware could fail altogether or cause imbalances that strain the entire system.
Scraping
Scraping can signal an issue with the garage door tracks. If the tracks are bent or misaligned, the door won’t move up or down smoothly. Instead, the rollers will scrape against the track as the door moves. Eventually, this will cause further problems, from broken rollers to door panel damage.
Long story short—if you notice a noise, you should check it out as soon as possible. You can always try a DIY approach, such as lubricating moving parts according to the manufacturer’s instructions or checking and tightening hardware as needed. If you prefer professional guidance, call your local garage door installation specialist or contractor to assess and resolve the situation.
Whichever route you choose, the key is to address any garage door noises as soon as you notice them, rather than letting the problem escalate. Tending to a minor repair today will prevent a major repair—and major cost—tomorrow.
Quick Action for Safety Hazard Prevention
When you delay necessary garage door repairs, no matter how minor, your door can quickly become a safety and security hazard. Addressing door issues promptly is the best way to protect your family and property.
When doors aren’t working properly, they often fail to open or close properly, resulting in:
- Doors getting stuck fully or partially open
- Doors getting stuck closed
- Doors opening or closing unexpectedly
A door that remains open is a significant security risk. An open door provides unfettered access to your garage and its contents, and, for attached garages, to your home.
If a garage door is stuck in the closed position, any person, animal, or vehicle inside the garage could be trapped. A door that won’t open is particularly concerning in an emergency, such as a fire or gas leak. Being able to exit without delay is critical to avoiding danger.
Unexpected door opening or closing can also be extremely dangerous. Modern garage doors can weigh anywhere between 100 and 500 pounds. If a door suddenly closes, the weight can cause significant damage or injury to anyone or anything caught underneath.
To prevent these and other safety issues, addressing small problems early is key. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound (or 500) of cure.
For garage door assistance in Heathsville and the area, call Easy Open Garage Doors, LLC, today. We’re your go-to experts for all your garage door installation, repair, and service needs. We stand behind our work with a 1-year warranty on all garage door installations and workmanship, and we honor all manufacturer warranties on parts. Call us today to find out how our exceptional customer service and top-notch services set us apart. Easy Open Garage Doors, LLC—because life is hard enough!
